Cilantro Lime Crispy Chicken Sandwich
Cilantro Lime Crispy Chicken Sandwich
Ingredients
For the Crispy Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, about 6 ounces each, pounded to 1/2-inch thickness
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 3 cups tortilla chips, finely crushed
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the Cilantro Lime Sauce
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup lime juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha sauce, or more to taste
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
For the Quick-Pickled Vegetables
- 1 English cucumber, thinly sliced into rounds
- 2 cups green cabbage, shredded
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Creamy Herb Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon fresh chives, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, minced
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
For Assembly
- 4 ciabatta rolls, or other rustic buns, split and toasted
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Quick-Pickled Vegetables: In a medium bowl or a sealable container, combine the sliced cucumber, shredded cabbage, rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon Sriracha, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Toss or shake well to combine. Set aside to marinate for at least 15 minutes while you prepare the other components.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Prepare the Creamy Herb Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, chives, dill, 1 teaspoon lime juice, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Prepare the Crispy Chicken Breading: Set up a dredging station. In one shallow dish, place the all-purpose flour. In a second shallow dish, whisk the beaten eggs. In a third shallow dish, combine the crushed tortilla chips, smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Mix well.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Bread the Chicken: Dredge each pounded chicken breast first in the flour, shaking off excess. Then dip in the beaten egg, allowing excess to drip off. Finally, press firmly into the crushed tortilla chip mixture, ensuring the chicken is fully coated on all sides. Repeat for all chicken breasts.
⏱️ 5 min
- 5
Air Fry the Chicken: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place the breaded chicken breasts in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring not to overcrowd (you may need to cook in batches). Air fry for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown, crispy, and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F / 74°C).
⏱️ 20 min•🌡️ 375
- 6
Prepare the Cilantro Lime Sauce: While the chicken is cooking, in a small saucepan, combine the 1/2 cup chopped cilantro, 1/4 cup lime juice, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon Sriracha, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes (if using). Bring to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened and fragrant. Remove from heat.
⏱️ 5 min
- 7
Coat the Chicken: Once the chicken is cooked, immediately transfer it to a large bowl. Pour the warm cilantro lime sauce over the crispy chicken breasts and toss gently to coat each piece thoroughly.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
Assemble the Sandwiches: Lightly toast the ciabatta rolls. Place a sauced crispy chicken breast on the bottom half of each toasted roll. Top generously with the quick-pickled cucumbers and cabbage. Drizzle a liberal amount of the creamy herb dressing over the vegetables and chicken. Sprinkle with fresh chopped cilantro. Place the top half of the ciabatta roll on top and serve immediately, cut in half if desired.
⏱️ 3 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Cilantro Lime Crispy Chicken Sandwich
Ingredients
For the Crispy Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, about 6 ounces each, pounded to 1/2-inch thickness
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 3 cups tortilla chips, finely crushed
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the Cilantro Lime Sauce
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup lime juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha sauce, or more to taste
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
For the Quick-Pickled Vegetables
- 1 English cucumber, thinly sliced into rounds
- 2 cups green cabbage, shredded
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Creamy Herb Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon fresh chives, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, minced
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
For Assembly
- 4 ciabatta rolls, or other rustic buns, split and toasted
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Quick-Pickled Vegetables: In a medium bowl or a sealable container, combine the sliced cucumber, shredded cabbage, rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon Sriracha, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Toss or shake well to combine. Set aside to marinate for at least 15 minutes while you prepare the other components.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Prepare the Creamy Herb Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, chives, dill, 1 teaspoon lime juice, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Prepare the Crispy Chicken Breading: Set up a dredging station. In one shallow dish, place the all-purpose flour. In a second shallow dish, whisk the beaten eggs. In a third shallow dish, combine the crushed tortilla chips, smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Mix well.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Bread the Chicken: Dredge each pounded chicken breast first in the flour, shaking off excess. Then dip in the beaten egg, allowing excess to drip off. Finally, press firmly into the crushed tortilla chip mixture, ensuring the chicken is fully coated on all sides. Repeat for all chicken breasts.
⏱️ 5 min - 5
Air Fry the Chicken: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place the breaded chicken breasts in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring not to overcrowd (you may need to cook in batches). Air fry for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown, crispy, and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F / 74°C).
⏱️ 20 min•🌡️ 375 - 6
Prepare the Cilantro Lime Sauce: While the chicken is cooking, in a small saucepan, combine the 1/2 cup chopped cilantro, 1/4 cup lime juice, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon Sriracha, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes (if using). Bring to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened and fragrant. Remove from heat.
⏱️ 5 min - 7
Coat the Chicken: Once the chicken is cooked, immediately transfer it to a large bowl. Pour the warm cilantro lime sauce over the crispy chicken breasts and toss gently to coat each piece thoroughly.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Assemble the Sandwiches: Lightly toast the ciabatta rolls. Place a sauced crispy chicken breast on the bottom half of each toasted roll. Top generously with the quick-pickled cucumbers and cabbage. Drizzle a liberal amount of the creamy herb dressing over the vegetables and chicken. Sprinkle with fresh chopped cilantro. Place the top half of the ciabatta roll on top and serve immediately, cut in half if desired.
⏱️ 3 min